Kazakhstani naval ships arrive in Russia for naval biathlon competition

ASTRAKHAN, July 24. /TASS/. Kazakhstan’s naval forces have committed two antiaircraft and artillery ships, the Oral and the Saryarka, have arrived in the Russian port of Makhachkala, the main base of Russia’s Caspian flotilla to take part in the Naval Biathlon international war games codenamed Caspian Cup 2015, the press service of the southern military district told TASS. Other participants in the exercise are the ship crews and marine units from Russia and Azerbaijan. "The antiaircraft ship Dagestan of the Caspian flotilla welcomed the Kazakhstani seamen off the harbor and escorted the ships to the pier," a spokesman for the press service said. He recalled that the naval competition would be held from August 1 through August 15 on a specially equipped testing range that covers about 170 square nautical miles. The Caspian Cup 2015 will have three phases. The first phase, which has been named the Caspian Derby, is a test for the marines who are expected to traverse a selected route with maximum speed and to hit all the targets. In the second phase, the crews of surface ships will be expected to make a circle along a selected route out in the sea and to perform combat exercises in incapacitating small maritime and aerial targets, floating mines and rescuing the crews of distressed ships. The third - "sportive" - phase of the exercise will see contests in physical fitness of the participating servicemen. The marines and seamen will demonstrate their fitness in 100 meters crawl, kettlebell lifting, and the tug-of-war. Winners will be established upon the results of all the three phases. Read more